Because there is not enough time-wasting material available on the Internet, I present you with this from the Hero Factory:
I am the Super Solderer, fast enough to make a diamond ring in a single three hour studio visit. Check out my huge blow torch.
What special abilities would you have if you were a superhero? If you make your own superhero, be sure to let me know, 'cause I want to see it.
I'm very pleased. My word count for the week was 4169. I also made significant progress in outlining my chapters (which I find helped me actually write more) and sussing out my story. I have always found it a challenge to incorporate my research with my writing but this week I seemed to have fallen into a groove.
Better yet, my total word count so far is 30,041.
The Duke's Theatre, where Lucian Wilde's plays are produced
After a horrible start on Monday wherein I did nothing very useful, I was determined to make Tuesday productive. Much of Tuesday was spent outlining chapters, which as I said above, really helped me move the story forward. Wednesday through Friday was spent writing.
My biggest challenge continues to be an inability to see how this is going to end. There are several possibilities. Another challenge is taking what is really a very complicated political situation and explaining it so that it's entertaining. I have now become a Popish Plot Geek, and the trouble with that is that it's easy to make assumptions that other people will know what I'm talking about. Conversely, it's also easy to assume the reader needs to know everything, thus rendering my novel boring and unreadable.
I read an interview with David Liss today that perfectly voices my predicament:
"A lot of historical fiction makes the mistake of either not knowing how to effectively deploy research or feeling too beholden to actual, historical events in the script," he explains. "My feeling is that history makes for great history, but it doesn't necessarily make for great fiction, and that if you're writing a historical novel, the history needs to be driven by the things that make great novels. That history is there as a context and setting and background, but that it needs to be foremost a story about characters. A lot of it, I think, is… putting character before research.
"Of course, I'm not saying I make things up. But I feel there's a certain kind of historical novel that wants to basically novelize history; the novelization of historical events… It's a perfectly valid way of telling a story, and I have nothing against it, it's just that I don't do that."
When I'm not writing, I tend to spend a lot of time thinking about why I'm not writing. One of the biggest reasons, I think, is feeling overwhelmed by this seemingly monumental task. Outlining helps with this, but I am realizing an even bigger part of my writer's block is coming from a lack of clarity with the story itself. I know what my characters want, kind of, but not to the extent that they are 100% real to me yet.
Useful Links:
Outlines: Ruining the Fun Since Chapter One - From Deadline Dames via toniandrews
Guest Blogger Terry Brennan - via RachelleGardner, a first-time author describes the editing process
The Book Deal - Editor Alan Rinzler's blog about the publishing industry
Published Authors Deal with Insecurity - Author Lionel Shriver talks about her experiences with her seventh novel
What do your Characters Want? - A great post by Literary Agent Nathan Bransford
It's time for the Spring Reading Challenge! If you don't know what I'm talking about, read this.
The fun begins today, 3/21/09 and ends on 6/20/09. And actually, I started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (highly recommend) yesterday, so if there's something you're reading now, feel free to put it on your list.
Here is my final book list:
1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2) Murder in the Latin Quarter
3) Once Were Cops: A Novel
4) The Memoirs of Cleopatra: A Novel
5) The Shrine at Altamira
6) Life of Pi
7) Carter Beats the Devil
8) My Anecdotal Life: A Memoir
9) The Emperor of Ocean Park
10) A Dreadful Man – The Story of Hollywood's Most Original Cad, George Sanders
So far, we've got three official participants:
Mick, Michelle, and Julie have also indicated that they'd like to participate, so we have a good group here. If you'd like to participate, post a comment here, post on your blog and send the link to me, or post it as a note on Facebook. I'm really interested in seeing everyone's choices.
Frankly, I'll eat my hat (why do I love that phrase so much?) if I actually finish all of these books but I'm really going to try.
Always, always, use spell-check. Seriously. There is no excuse.
I joined Twitter around the same time I joined Facebook, but I never used it because, well, it didn't seem very useful to me. At the time, I suppose it wasn't. I only truly got interested in it in the last month, when John at This Young House posted this:
If you’ve noticed the “Tweet Nothings” widget on our sidebar, then you probably already know that we’re on Twitter. I’m the primary tweeter between the two of us, using it to share tidbits that aren’t quite full-post-worthy and keeping you updated when we’re on the move (like if we’ve just spotted a new deal while out shopping). We’d love to mutually follow more of you, so check us out here and click “follow” under our picture. No clue what Twitter is? Watch this to get you started.
I thought "Hey, that's not such a bad idea! I'll try that myself." I was intrigued by the concept of microblogging, and unlike Facebook, where I generally post drivel for all my friends to see, I planned to use Twitter in much the same way I use my blog. To pass on information.
But Twitter really exploded for me when I read about something called #queryfail in Media Bistro's Galley Cat blog. During #queryfail, agents and editors twittered their worst queries. As someone who is writing their first novel but who has no experience with the publishing industry, I was completely interested. I headed on over to Twitter and was "introduced" to a group of people who were entertaining, honest, knowledgeable, and best of all, willing to share information.
On any given day, I am treated to a selection of links as diverse as these:
Doris Lessing: On Why Autobiography is Inevitably Untrue via Stephka, who writes The Crooked House
50 Reasons No One Wants to Publish Your First Book, via DanielLiterary
Insane Hiking Trail via EGDeedy (RT Zeblue_Prime and Maczter)
Novel Approach: Undercover at Library via KevinRoose, an author whose book UNLIKELY DISCIPLE: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University comes out this month.
Q & A with Literary Agent Michelle Brower via mariaschneider
What's the Hook? The Art of the Pitch via joefinder, best selling author
I follow authors, literary agents, editors, book publicists–anyone who I think will post useful information for me to gobble up. Right now, I'm pretty much in listening mode, but as I learn and find things to share, I will be more of an active participant.
To use a Twitter-appropriate analogy, I am like a baby bird with my beak wide open, waiting for its mommy to come back to the nest to feed me. Feed me information!
Baby hummingbirds by T. Solis
Of course, I also follow crafty-types and DIYers because, ya know, that's in my blood. Truth be told, however, those folks don't tweet near as often as the literary-types, so most of what I get out of twitter is in that vein.
Here's another good post on why Twitter is useful.
I leave you with a few twit-bits from Top 10 Tips for Twitter…And Life, via Bookgal:
1. Fluff and filler are no longer an option. Nobody has time/interest in reading them. Get to the point.
2. Be real. 140 chars is cut to the bone – you can’t wear a fake character on top and still fit.
3. Pick what’s important. You could use twitter to talk about your day down to the bowel movements, but then you’d have nobody following you. People follow you on twitter because what’s important to you is a match with what’s important to them, so share it!
Anyone up for a challenge?
Mick and I have been making an effort to read more. This means that several nights a week, the TV stays off and we sit in the living room drinking wine and reading. I consider this an important part of writing my own novel (well the wine drinking anyway), so I'm not just doing it for the entertainment value.
Inspired by My Two Blessings via BethFishReads, I decided to do my own reading challenge for Spring.
The challenge will begin on 3/21/09 and end on 6/20/09. If you'd like to participate, email me or comment here. If you have a blog, post your book list and I'll link to it in this and subsequent posts.
The purpose of this is to challenge yourself both to read more and to possibly read some books that have been on your "list" for awhile, but for whatever reason you haven't got around to them. There is no set number of books you have to read, but to make it a challenge pick a number that will require you to read more than you normally do now.
You have few days to come up with your list, but here are a few of the books I'd like to include on mine:
1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2) Murder in the Latin Quarter
3) Once Were Cops: A Novel
4) The Memoirs of Cleopatra: A Novel
I'm tempted to include From Hell, but I haven't on that yet decided yet.
I will have more to add, but these are the books I know I want to read so far. I'd like to read at least ten books, which will be a challenge for me because I'm a slow reader. I'll post the rest on Friday.
What about you? Will you join me?
On Friday I was going through my jewelry drawer and I found a felted bowl I made at Christmas which I put on my nightstand to hold my jewelry when I take it off at night (not sure why it was in the jewelry drawer instead of my nightstand, but I had a good reason for moving it at the time).
This bowl was made from variegated wool (Manos del Uruguay). I liked the project so much I knit a larger one for a Christmas present for my grandparents. I put candy in the bowl because they like to have a bowl of candy on their coffee table.
The pattern I used was from One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit or Crochet
Knitted Felted Bowl Pattern
40 Years Felted Bowl
Spring Colored Felted Bowl
Felted bowls are great stash-busters, and they're quick and easy. In other words, the perfect project.
Knitting not your thing? Don't worry, you can crochet felted bowls too.
Finally, if you don't have the time or desire to do it yourself, Papaververton Etsy makes and sells gorgeous felted bowls.
I updated my About Me page today to include a brief description of my novel:
I am a writer currently working on my first novel. The working title is Diary of Bedlam and it is a mystery based on the real-life unsolved murder of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey. Set in 1678 London, it faithfully describes one of the darkest periods of political turmoil to occur during the reign of Charles II: the popish plot.
I didn't set out to write a novel about the popish plot. When I first read about the murder of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey I was enthralled by the mystery but I just wanted to write a novel–not a treatise on the politics of the time. Unfortunately, the Popish Plot and Sir Edmund's murder are irrevocably intertwined. Indeed, to a large extent, one would not have happened without the other. The conspiracy was already brewing when Sir Edmund's corpse was found in a ditch at the bottom of Primrose Hill, but the kettle had already boiled and the coffee was cooling. Sir Edmund's death gave new life to the popish plot and set off a frenzy of rumors, lies, and suspicion in London. The city became crazy with fear–a sort of Bedlam.
As often happens to writers, I could not let go of this story. It touches upon another theme that is important to me: religious discrimination and its role in government and politics. I had found the story I was born to write.
I decided that posting about my progress at the end of the week (Fridays) and weekend (Mondays) might be a good way to keep me honest. So here you go, my first weekend writing report:
Words written: 765
Well below my goal of 1000 words per day, but we did go on an overnight trip this weekend so I absolve myself.
The good news is that these 735 words were written as part of a new scene and were not added to previously written scenes. It always feels good to move the story forward.
As of last weekend, my word count was around 24k. However, this doesn't count some of the subplot I put to the side while I work on the main plot. Ultimately I know wordcount is important but for now I've got to get the main story worked out. Honestly, I haven't even figured out who the killer is. I'll worry about word count later.
Best line written this weekend:
“My dear,” Charles said, taking my chin in his fingers and lifting my face so that my eyes met his. “Don’t tell me you’ve become just another meddling woman.”
Useful links:
Fiction Writers Review - Tagline: The site for writers who love to read and readers who aspire to write
Get Your Characters Out of My Way - Good advice for avoiding 'gawking' characters, via Nithska
Tommy's Top Tips – #1 Literary Agents – Detailed advice about literary agents and getting one, via Tommydonbavand
See you on Friday with my weekday wrap-up. Think I can make the 5000 word goal?
As a kid, there were three great things about Easter. First, Lent was over, and that meant it was time to PAR-TAY. Second, it meant a basket full of Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, which to this day I cannot resist. And third, it meant pretty sugared eggs with miniature panoramas inside.
Which brings me to today's selection: Sugarless Panoramic Eggs and Egg Box by Anita M. Wheeles, via Whipup.
Visit PopKnits to see the complete tutorial for how to make these precious eggs. When I saw them, it filled me with such nostagia I got a little weepy (well, there's been wine involved, and you know how that goes). But I suddenly realized why I am so enthralled by these tiny little woodland scenes–I have alwasy loved dollhouses, miniatures, and panoramas, and these fit the bill wonderfully.
Plus, they have no calories.
I'm not a felter, but since I joined Etsy I have a new appreciation for this art, especially miniature felted animals. For example, KaysK9s has such a cute shop I almost can't contain myself.